On this day, prescribed by law and marked by ceremony, we celebrate the durable wisdom of our Constitution, and recall the deep commitments that unite our country. I am grateful for the honor of this hour, mindful of the consequential times in which we live, and determined to fulfill the oath that I have sworn and you have witnessed.

At this second gathering, our duties are defined not by the words I use, but by the history we have seen together. For a half century, America defended our own freedom by standing watch on distant borders. After the shipwreck of communism came years of relative quiet, years of repose, years of sabbatical - and then there came a day of fire.

We have seen our vulnerability - and we have seen its deepest source. For as long as whole regions of the world simmer in resentment and tyranny - prone to ideologies that feed hatred and excuse murder - violence will gather, and multiply in destructive power, and cross the most defended borders, and raise a mortal threat. There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the pretensions of tyrants, and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant, and that is the force of human freedom.

We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.

America's vital interests and our deepest beliefs are now one. From the day of our Founding, we have proclaimed that every man and woman on this earth has rights, and dignity, and matchless value, because they bear the image of the Maker of Heaven and earth. Across the generations we have proclaimed the imperative of self-government, because no one is fit to be a master, and no one deserves to be a slave. Advancing these ideals is the mission that created our Nation. It is the honorable achievement of our fathers. Now it is the urgent requirement of our nation's security, and the calling of our time.

So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.

This is not primarily the task of arms, though we will defend ourselves and our friends by force of arms when necessary. Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities. And when the soul of a nation finally speaks, the institutions that arise may reflect customs and traditions very different from our own. America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way.

The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it. America's influence is not unlimited, but fortunately for the oppressed, America's influence is considerable, and we will use it confidently in freedom's cause.

My most solemn duty is to protect this nation and its people against further attacks and emerging threats. Some have unwisely chosen to test America's resolve, and have found it firm.

We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every nation: The moral choice between oppression, which is always wrong, and freedom, which is eternally right. America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains, or that women welcome humiliation and servitude, or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies.

We will encourage reform in other governments by making clear that success in our relations will require the decent treatment of their own people. America's belief in human dignity will guide our policies, yet rights must be more than the grudging concessions of dictators; they are secured by free dissent and the participation of the governed. In the long run, there is no justice without freedom, and there can be no human rights without human liberty.

Some, I know, have questioned the global appeal of liberty - though this time in history, four decades defined by the swiftest advance of freedom ever seen, is an odd time for doubt. Americans, of all people, should never be surprised by the power of our ideals. Eventually, the call of freedom comes to every mind and every soul. We do not accept the existence of permanent tyranny because we do not accept the possibility of permanent slavery. Liberty will come to those who love it.

Today, America speaks anew to the peoples of the world:

All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.

Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or exile can know: America sees you for who you are: the future leaders of your free country.

The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham Lincoln did: "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it."

The leaders of governments with long habits of control need to know: To serve your people you must learn to trust them. Start on this journey of progress and justice, and America will walk at your side.

And all the allies of the United States can know: we honor your friendship, we rely on your counsel, and we depend on your help. Division among free nations is a primary goal of freedom's enemies. The concerted effort of free nations to promote democracy is a prelude to our enemies' defeat.

Today, I also speak anew to my fellow citizens:

From all of you, I have asked patience in the hard task of securing America, which you have granted in good measure. Our country has accepted obligations that are difficult to fulfill, and would be dishonorable to abandon. Yet because we have acted in the great liberating tradition of this nation, tens of millions have achieved their freedom. And as hope kindles hope, millions more will find it. By our efforts, we have lit a fire as well - a fire in the minds of men. It warms those who feel its power, it burns those who fight its progress, and one day this untamed fire of freedom will reach the darkest corners of our world.

A few Americans have accepted the hardest duties in this cause - in the quiet work of intelligence and diplomacy ... the idealistic work of helping raise up free governments ... the dangerous and necessary work of fighting our enemies. Some have shown their devotion to our country in deaths that honored their whole lives - and we will always honor their names and their sacrifice.

All Americans have witnessed this idealism, and some for the first time. I ask our youngest citizens to believe the evidence of your eyes. You have seen duty and allegiance in the determined faces of our soldiers. You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs. Make the choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself - and in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country, but to its character.

America has need of idealism and courage, because we have essential work at home - the unfinished work of American freedom. In a world moving toward liberty, we are determined to show the meaning and promise of liberty.

In America's ideal of freedom, citizens find the dignity and security of economic independence, instead of laboring on the edge of subsistence. This is the broader definition of liberty that motivated the Homestead Act, the Social Security Act, and the G.I. Bill of Rights. And now we will extend this vision by reforming great institutions to serve the needs of our time. To give every American a stake in the promise and future of our country, we will bring the highest standards to our schools, and build an ownership society. We will widen the ownership of homes and businesses, retirement savings and health insurance - preparing our people for the challenges of life in a free society. By making every citizen an agent of his or her own destiny, we will give our fellow Americans greater freedom from want and fear, and make our society more prosperous and just and equal.

In America's ideal of freedom, the public interest depends on private character - on integrity, and tolerance toward others, and the rule of conscience in our own lives. Self-government relies, in the end, on the governing of the self. That edifice of character is built in families, supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our national life by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the Koran, and the varied faiths of our people. Americans move forward in every generation by reaffirming all that is good and true that came before - ideals of justice and conduct that are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

In America's ideal of freedom, the exercise of rights is ennobled by service, and mercy, and a heart for the weak. Liberty for all does not mean independence from one another. Our nation relies on men and women who look after a neighbor and surround the lost with love. Americans, at our best, value the life we see in one another, and must always remember that even the unwanted have worth. And our country must abandon all the habits of racism, because we cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the same time.

From the perspective of a single day, including this day of dedication, the issues and questions before our country are many. From the viewpoint of centuries, the questions that come to us are narrowed and few. Did our generation advance the cause of freedom? And did our character bring credit to that cause?

These questions that judge us also unite us, because Americans of every party and background, Americans by choice and by birth, are bound to one another in the cause of freedom. We have known divisions, which must be healed to move forward in great purposes - and I will strive in good faith to heal them. Yet those divisions do not define America. We felt the unity and fellowship of our nation when freedom came under attack, and our response came like a single hand over a single heart. And we can feel that same unity and pride whenever America acts for good, and the victims of disaster are given hope, and the unjust encounter justice, and the captives are set free.

We go forward with complete confidence in the eventual triumph of freedom. Not because history runs on the wheels of inevitability; it is human choices that move events. Not because we consider ourselves a chosen nation; God moves and chooses as He wills. We have confidence because freedom is the permanent hope of mankind, the hunger in dark places, the longing of the soul. When our Founders declared a new order of the ages; when soldiers died in wave upon wave for a union based on liberty; when citizens marched in peaceful outrage under the banner "Freedom Now" - they were acting on an ancient hope that is meant to be fulfilled. History has an ebb and flow of justice, but history also has a visible direction, set by liberty and the Author of Liberty.

When the Declaration of Independence was first read in public and the Liberty Bell was sounded in celebration, a witness said, "It rang as if it meant something." In our time it means something still. America, in this young century, proclaims liberty throughout all the world, and to all the inhabitants thereof. Renewed in our strength - tested, but not weary - we are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom.

May God bless you, and may He watch over the United States of America.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. We had a long night -- and a great night. (Applause.) The voters turned out in record numbers and delivered an historic victory. (Applause.)

Earlier today, Senator Kerry called with his congratulations. We had a really good phone call, he was very gracious. Senator Kerry waged a spirited campaign, and he and his supporters can be proud of their efforts.(Applause.) Laura and I wish Senator Kerry and Teresa and their whole family all our best wishes.

America has spoken, and I'm humbled by the trust and the confidence of my fellow citizens. With that trust comes a duty to serve all Americans, and I will do my best to fulfill that duty every day as your President. (Applause.)...

...The campaign has ended, and the United States of America goes forward with confidence and faith. I see a great day coming for our country and I am eager for the work ahead. God bless you, and may God bless America. (Applause.)

President George W. Bush attended a Victory 2004 Rally at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 30, 2004.

Before the President arrived, Senator Norm Coleman held up a copy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press showing the paper's endorsement of the President for re-election. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty held up and turned upside down a large maroon and gold flag with the University's "M" which he said meant Minnesota stood for "W." Brock Lesnar also spoke and endorsed the President.

The crowd estimated at over 20,000 cheered loudly when the large video screen on the scoreboard showed the President and First Lady Laura Bush arriving on Air Force One.

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Tice introduced President Bush and presented him with a personalized Vikings jersey with the number 1 on the back. With only days before the election President Bush thanked everyone for coming and said "We are here to ask for your vote. We are here to ask for your help."

The President closed with these words "When I campaigned across this state four years ago, I made this pledge that if I got elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for four more years. God bless. Thank you all for coming." Continuing with that theme, the closing song for the event was Ricky Martin's "The Cup of Life," which was used during the 2000 campaign.

Bush-Cheney '04 Launches New Television Advertisement, "Whatever It Takes"

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, Bush-Cheney '04 announced the release of the campaign's newest television advertisement, "Whatever It Takes." The ad features the President discussing his resolve to win the War on Terror.

Script For "Whatever It Takes"

President Bush:

These four years have brought moments I could not foresee and will not forget. I’ve learned first hand that ordering Americans into battle is the hardest decision, even when it is right. I have returned the salute of wounded soldiers who say they were just doing their job. I have held the children of the fallen who are told their dad or mom is a hero but would rather just have their mom or dad. I’ve met with the parents and wives and husbands who have received a folded flag. And in those military families, I have seen the character of a great nation. Because of your service and sacrifice, we are defeating the terrorists where they live and plan and you’re making America safer. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes.

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, Bush-Cheney '04 announced the release of the campaign's newest television advertisement, "The Choice." The ad discusses the choice voters face on the War on Terror, tax relief, health care and Social Security. The ad will begin running tomorrow on national cable and in select local markets.

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, Bush-Cheney '04 announced the release of the campaign's newest television advertisement, "Wolves." The ad notes that just one year after the first World Trade Center bombing, John Kerry and the liberals in Congress voted to slash America's intelligence operations by $6 billion across the board, cuts so deep they would have weakened America’s defenses. The ad will begin running today on national cable and in select local markets.

Script For "Wolves"

Voice Over:In an increasingly dangerous world… Even after the first terrorist attack on America… John Kerry and the liberals in Congress voted to slash America’s intelligence operations. By 6 billion dollars… Cuts so deep they would have weakened America’s defenses. And weakness attracts those who are waiting to do America harm.

“Instead of giving voters even one good reason to vote for him, George W. Bush has chosen to scare the American people with images of wolves. In three debates, voters saw for themselves the kind of strong and principled leader John Kerry will be. He is a leader who will wage a tougher, smarter war against terror, and fight here at home to strengthen the middle class.”

At the Rochester Aviation Hangar in Rochester, Minnesota, President Bush discussed his Economic Program.

On Free Trade: "In order to make sure this economy grows, we got to keep opening up markets for Minnesota farmers and entrepreneurs and small business owners. See, the tendency in American politics is to fall prey to economic isolationism. That would be bad for our workers. It would be bad for our consumers. The Presidents before me have opened up our markets, and I'm happy to open up markets, too. It's in our consumers' interests. If you have more products to choose from you're likely to get that which you want at a better price and better quality. See, it's in your interests. And so I'm saying to places like China, you treat us the way we treat you. You open up your markets just like we've opened up our markets. And I say that with confidence because we can compete with anybody, any time, anywhere so long as the rules are fair."

On Social Security: "One other thing I want to talk about right quick, and that is Social Security. A President must solve problems, must confront problems, not pass them on to future Presidents or future generations. We have a problem in Social Security, and that is, when baby boomers like me retire, younger workers are going to have trouble paying for us, and therefore, have money available when they retire. That's just the facts. Now, first, I want to address kind of the typical old-style, stale politics, and that is the politics of scare tactics towards Social Security. When I ran in 2000, I suspect here in the state of Minnesota -- I know in other states -- they ran ads saying, if George W. gets elected, the seniors will not get their checks. I want you to remind your friends and neighbors, the seniors got their checks. Nobody's going to take away the Social Security check from our seniors. The fund has got enough money, and baby boomers like me are in good shape. But we need to worry about children and our grandchildren when it comes to Social Security. Social Security will not be there when they need it if we don't think differently.

That is why I believe younger workers ought to be able to take some of their payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, a personal savings account that will earn a better rate of return than the current Social Security trust, an account they call their own, an account the government cannot take away."

The President closed with these words. "I'm running again because I want to make sure hope and opportunity spread throughout the land, good economic policy, to encouraging ownership for all people in our society. I'm running again because I hold certain values dear that I think are important for this country. And I'm running again because I fully understand the risks we face, and I have a strategy to protect the American people.

We're going to win on November the 2nd, with your help. May God bless you. May God bless our great country. Thank you all for coming."

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, Bush-Cheney '04 announced the release of the campaign's newest television advertisement, "Risk." The ad highlights Kerry and the liberals in Congress' pre-9/11 world view and asks if their policies are a risk we can afford to take today. The ad will begin running today on national cable and in select local markets.

Script For "Risk"

Voice Over:After September 11th, our world changed. Either we fight terrorists abroad or face them here. John Kerry and liberals in Congress have a different view. They opposed Reagan as he won the Cold War. Voted against the first Gulf War. Voted to slash intelligence after the first Trade Center attack. Repeatedly opposed weapons vital to winning the War on Terror. John Kerry and his liberal allies… Are they a risk we can afford to take today?

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, Bush-Cheney '04 announced the release of the campaign's newest television advertisements, "Complicated Plan" and "Your Doctor." The ads note how John Kerry and the liberals in Congress' $1.5 trillion big government health care takeover will result in rationing of care, less access, fewer choices and long waits. Their plan will empower Washington bureaucrats, not doctors, to make final health care decisions.

"Complicated Plan" and "Your Doctor" will run on national cable and in select local markets. The ad is available now at www.georgewbush.com.

Script For "Complicated Plan"

Voice Over:John Kerry and liberals in Congress have a health care plan for you. A big-government take over. 1.5 trillion dollars. Rationing. Less access. Fewer choices. Long waits. And Washington bureaucrats, not your doctor... make final decisions on your health. So if you need treatment… all you have to do is…You get the picture…John Kerry and liberals in Congress. Big government-run healthcare.

President Bush:I'm George W. Bush and I approve this message.

Script For "Your Doctor"

Voice Over:John Kerry and liberals in Congress have a health care plan. It includes the IRS, Treasury Department, and several massive new government agencies. Your doctor? In here somewhere… But not in charge. This 1.5 trillion dollar government program puts bureaucrats, not your doctor... in charge of your health care decisions. One more reason we can't risk the liberals in Congress and John Kerry.

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, Bush-Cheney '04 announced the release of the campaign's newest television advertisement, "World View." John Kerry first said defeating terrorism was more about law enforcement than a strong military operation and now compares terrorists to a "nuisance" like gambling and prostitution. The ad asks how Kerry can protect us when he does not understand the threat we face.

The ad will run on national cable and on the Bush-Cheney '04 website.

Script For "World View"

Voice Over:First, Kerry said defeating terrorism was really MORE about law enforcement and intelligence than a strong military operation… More about law enforcement than a strong military? Now Kerry says… We have to get back to the place where terrorists are a nuisance like gambling and prostitution… we’re never going to end them. Terrorism… a nuisance? How can Kerry protect us when he doesn’t understand the threat?